Description

Ghrelin discovered in 1999, is fast becoming an endocrinology target of the millennium. Ghrelin, identified in rat stomach as an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor, is mainly produced in stomach, but has been demonstrated in many other organs. In addition to GH-releasing properties and its orexant action, ghrelin could act as an hormone having effects on gastric motility (similaritty with the peptide hormone motilin), acidic secretion, cardiovascular action, antiproliferative effects, pancreatic and glucose metabolism function, sleep... Ghrelin gene raises to mRNA prepro-ghrelin of 117 amino acids. This precursor is processed into ghrelin, 28 amino acids (human). Before being secreted, this peptide is octanoylated at Ser 3. This step is essential for biological activity. If the endogenous peptide appears directly related to feeding behaviour, the potential therapeutic importance of this hormone is not restricted to a regulator of food intake but also may be involved osteoporosis somatopaus, infertility and ovulation induction, and some cardiovascular diseases